Yes! I think that’s the part people often misinterpret... the goal shouldn't be to never get pulled in again, but to slowly build the capacity to notice it sooner and to return to the moment (and ourselves) a little differently.
This is clear and grounded in a way that makes the practice feel usable, not abstract.
You keep bringing it back to ordinary moments—coffee, messages, presentations—which helps it land as something people can actually do, not just understand...
I’m really glad that came through - that was exactly what I was trying to hold onto while writing it.
I’ve noticed for myself that if something only works in “ideal” conditions, it doesn’t stick. It has to fit into those small, slightly messy moments - checking your phone, rushing through something, that low-level stress that shows up out of nowhere.
That’s usually where I catch it now. Not in a perfect quiet space, but mid-day, mid-thought, just noticing “oh, this is where my mind went again.”
It’s not a big shift in the moment, but those small returns seem to add up over time.
In the soft glow of Sufi wisdom, you’re already practicing something close to muraqaba—that watchful attention the Sufi masters talk about. It’s like sitting quietly and letting thoughts, emotions, or impulses come and go, not grabbing at them or shoving them away, but simply welcoming each as Rumi suggests, breathing in the Divine Name.
When you pause, breathe, notice without judgment, and choose a kinder response, you’re doing what the true lover of God does: turning inward, witnessing the storms of anxiety or self-criticism, and letting them drift across your heart like clouds.
You aren’t here to fight these feelings. You’re letting them go so the mercy of the Divine can soften your heart and clear your vision.
Even in day-to-day moments—prepping for a stressful presentation or getting caught up in old habits—this kind of awareness becomes a living dhikr, a reminder that snaps you out of autopilot and brings you fully present.
It’s more than just resilience or compassion; it’s how the ego fades away and you discover your true self, and through that, a deeper connection to the Beloved.
Keep weaving this mindful attention into your daily life. It’s in this simple, tender watching that the soul starts to make its way home.
Thank you for this… your words add such a beautiful depth and spiritual dimension to what I was trying to express.
I really appreciate how you connected mindful self-observation to muraqaba and dhikr. That idea of “watchful attention” feels like such a gentle and compassionate way to relate to our inner world… less about fixing or controlling, and more about witnessing with presence and care.
What you said about not fighting feelings but allowing them to pass like clouds resonates deeply. I think that’s where a lot of us struggle… we assume growth means resistance, when often it’s actually about softening and allowing.
I also love the way you framed everyday awareness as a kind of living remembrance. That shift… from autopilot to presence, from reactivity to witnessing… really is where something meaningful begins to change.
Grateful for you sharing this perspective. It adds a sense of warmth and sacredness to the practice that’s easy to forget in daily life.
I’m really glad my words connected with you. You’ve nailed what the Sufis talk about — that gentle shift where just noticing our feelings softens us instead of making us clamp down. When we quit trying to control everything inside and just show up for it, our hearts slowly open up on their own. That’s when ordinary moments turn into a quiet remembering, a way back to what's already whole inside us. It’s good to know you felt the sacredness in that.
This is so beautifully explained - my mother is struggling with her thoughts (she’s 86) and this may be able to resonate with her so she won’t be tortured by all the things that cross her consciousness. ♥️ We can all benefit by noticing vs reacting.
Beautiful piece, Alexandra. I love the way you describe thoughts like people passing on a park bench.
It’s interesting, too, how this connects with something I wrote recently about living on autopilot. Your piece feels like the gentle next step: once we notice we’re on autopilot, mindful observation helps us pause and create space before reacting.
That small space can change so much. Thank you for sharing this reminder that we don’t have to fight our thoughts; we can simply notice them and let them pass.
Thanks Andrea, please send me your article, I would like to read it. ❤️
Yes, mindful self observation it’s an important practice where we observe and accept. And perhaps we can allow ourselves to be kind by just observing without judgement… those little moments can also teach us a lot about ourselves.
Here you go. It’s a short reflection on how many of us move through life on autopilot until something wakes us up. Mindful observation was one of the practices that helped me start noticing those patterns and gently step out of them. ❤️https://andrea8294.substack.com/p/how-do-you-get-off-autopilot?r=5hi4j1
I love how you describe this as befriending the mind rather than fixing it. That shift is profound.
In my own life — and in my work as a death doula — mindful self-observation is often the difference between reacting from fear and responding from presence. Simply naming, “Anxiety is here,” or “Tightness is here,” creates space. And in that space, resilience grows.
Thank you for offering such a grounded, practical invitation to return to ourselves.
Yes, I love this practice because it helps me give space to myself. To hear myself out… and to act from a place of awareness instead of fear or autopilot, like you said. I practice this for quite some times and it’s so useful. ❤️ I am sure it will help you too.
I really loved the line about learning to watch thoughts instead of automatically believing them.
That small shift creates so much space!
I’m really glad that stood out to you - that shift felt small to me at first too, but it changes more than you expect.
I remember noticing it in a really ordinary moment, catching a thought and pausing instead of following it straight away.
It doesn’t always last, I still get pulled in sometimes, but even those small moments of stepping back seem to soften things over time.
That space you mentioned… once you feel it, it’s hard to ignore.
Yes! I think that’s the part people often misinterpret... the goal shouldn't be to never get pulled in again, but to slowly build the capacity to notice it sooner and to return to the moment (and ourselves) a little differently.
Yes I agree with you
This is clear and grounded in a way that makes the practice feel usable, not abstract.
You keep bringing it back to ordinary moments—coffee, messages, presentations—which helps it land as something people can actually do, not just understand...
I’m really glad that came through - that was exactly what I was trying to hold onto while writing it.
I’ve noticed for myself that if something only works in “ideal” conditions, it doesn’t stick. It has to fit into those small, slightly messy moments - checking your phone, rushing through something, that low-level stress that shows up out of nowhere.
That’s usually where I catch it now. Not in a perfect quiet space, but mid-day, mid-thought, just noticing “oh, this is where my mind went again.”
It’s not a big shift in the moment, but those small returns seem to add up over time.
Great article again. Totally agree with it. Just not for me personally.
In the soft glow of Sufi wisdom, you’re already practicing something close to muraqaba—that watchful attention the Sufi masters talk about. It’s like sitting quietly and letting thoughts, emotions, or impulses come and go, not grabbing at them or shoving them away, but simply welcoming each as Rumi suggests, breathing in the Divine Name.
When you pause, breathe, notice without judgment, and choose a kinder response, you’re doing what the true lover of God does: turning inward, witnessing the storms of anxiety or self-criticism, and letting them drift across your heart like clouds.
You aren’t here to fight these feelings. You’re letting them go so the mercy of the Divine can soften your heart and clear your vision.
Even in day-to-day moments—prepping for a stressful presentation or getting caught up in old habits—this kind of awareness becomes a living dhikr, a reminder that snaps you out of autopilot and brings you fully present.
It’s more than just resilience or compassion; it’s how the ego fades away and you discover your true self, and through that, a deeper connection to the Beloved.
Keep weaving this mindful attention into your daily life. It’s in this simple, tender watching that the soul starts to make its way home.
Thank you for this… your words add such a beautiful depth and spiritual dimension to what I was trying to express.
I really appreciate how you connected mindful self-observation to muraqaba and dhikr. That idea of “watchful attention” feels like such a gentle and compassionate way to relate to our inner world… less about fixing or controlling, and more about witnessing with presence and care.
What you said about not fighting feelings but allowing them to pass like clouds resonates deeply. I think that’s where a lot of us struggle… we assume growth means resistance, when often it’s actually about softening and allowing.
I also love the way you framed everyday awareness as a kind of living remembrance. That shift… from autopilot to presence, from reactivity to witnessing… really is where something meaningful begins to change.
Grateful for you sharing this perspective. It adds a sense of warmth and sacredness to the practice that’s easy to forget in daily life.
I’m really glad my words connected with you. You’ve nailed what the Sufis talk about — that gentle shift where just noticing our feelings softens us instead of making us clamp down. When we quit trying to control everything inside and just show up for it, our hearts slowly open up on their own. That’s when ordinary moments turn into a quiet remembering, a way back to what's already whole inside us. It’s good to know you felt the sacredness in that.
This is so beautifully explained - my mother is struggling with her thoughts (she’s 86) and this may be able to resonate with her so she won’t be tortured by all the things that cross her consciousness. ♥️ We can all benefit by noticing vs reacting.
I am happy that you liked it Susan. And if you think it can help your mum please share with her.
This practice is something I enjoy doing. Sitting in silence and just observe without engaging. It’s not easy but it’s so beneficial.
Beautiful piece, Alexandra. I love the way you describe thoughts like people passing on a park bench.
It’s interesting, too, how this connects with something I wrote recently about living on autopilot. Your piece feels like the gentle next step: once we notice we’re on autopilot, mindful observation helps us pause and create space before reacting.
That small space can change so much. Thank you for sharing this reminder that we don’t have to fight our thoughts; we can simply notice them and let them pass.
Thanks Andrea, please send me your article, I would like to read it. ❤️
Yes, mindful self observation it’s an important practice where we observe and accept. And perhaps we can allow ourselves to be kind by just observing without judgement… those little moments can also teach us a lot about ourselves.
Here you go. It’s a short reflection on how many of us move through life on autopilot until something wakes us up. Mindful observation was one of the practices that helped me start noticing those patterns and gently step out of them. ❤️https://andrea8294.substack.com/p/how-do-you-get-off-autopilot?r=5hi4j1
I love how you describe this as befriending the mind rather than fixing it. That shift is profound.
In my own life — and in my work as a death doula — mindful self-observation is often the difference between reacting from fear and responding from presence. Simply naming, “Anxiety is here,” or “Tightness is here,” creates space. And in that space, resilience grows.
Thank you for offering such a grounded, practical invitation to return to ourselves.
Yes, I love this practice because it helps me give space to myself. To hear myself out… and to act from a place of awareness instead of fear or autopilot, like you said. I practice this for quite some times and it’s so useful. ❤️ I am sure it will help you too.